Hello, I am a student in the Intel Essentials class March 2009.
I am also a teacher at the Virginia School for the Deaf and Blind in Staunton.
I am currently teaching 3rd grade.

Module 2
This module has helped me think about using standards, CFQs, or formative assessment in the following ways:
Using standards is not new to me, but expanding the unit using CFQs gives the unit more than an activity in
memorization. I liked finding an Essential Question that I could wrap around the whole year. We will be explorers
in third grade in math, in science, throughtout our social studies units, and reading and writing. The students will
be more responsible for their learning, instead of me just spoon feeding them information. I already feel myself
changing my strategies, rather than giving them everything they need, I give them a few things and ask them to
problem solve what else they need.
The amount of information is overwhelming my brain, and as a perfectionist, I keep changing things and driving
myself nuts. So I am very frustrated, but feel like I am learning so much. I was unable to embed the assessment
even after trying on several computers and several different ways. Bummer. 4/15/09

Hi Jamie
I read your unit portfolio. I can definetly relate to the part about "using technology that I have never hear of before"
I wonder if Google Earth would be of any help? I would have pictures of where they started from and you could treck the progress across the ocean and I am sure there would be great pictures of the islands that they landed on.
It looks great.
see you on Saturday
allie
3.04 Activity 1- Due to the level of my students, they would be assisted each step of the way. Based on the KWL chart, we would know where the students are starting. Books on the subject and Discovery Streaming would introduce the topic. Based on this learning, teachers and students would role play to model and demonstrate learning. Making pictures to demonstrate learning would also serve as an assessment. Digital pictures would provide the frame work for the power point presentation. 21st century skills would involve working together, taking on different roles, and using technology with assistance.

4.04 Meet the Bears-
What 21st Century Skills? analysis and synthesis
Curriculum Framing Questions? All activities are related to the questions
Technology? Students compile all of their information into a brochure after they have researched their own bear.
I really enjoyed this unit and would love to use it with my students.